Bone Metabolism Parameters in Azerbaijani Pre and Postmenopausal Women with Diabetes

This study aimed to determine the directionality of changes in serum bone remodeling markers and bone mineral density in the pre- and postmenopausal women with diabetes mellitus.

This study was carried out during the years 2016-2017 on the basis of Azerbaijan Medical University and included 142 pre- and postmenopausal women with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 1and DM2) were compared with 43 age-matched non-diabetics. The groups evaluated Ca²⁺, PTH, CT, 25(OH)D levels, serum bone remodeling markers (ALP, P1NP, b-CTx), lumbar spine, proximal and femoral neck areas using DXA assessment.

The results showed inconsistency observed between bone remodeling processes in women with diabetes. A negative correlation was observed between duration of diabetes and Lumbar T-scores (DM1: r = -0.568, P = 0.001; DM2: r = -0.267, P = 0.04). Lumbar T-scores was negatively correlated with b-CTx level (DM1: r = -0.452, P = 0.002; DM2: r = -0.357, P = 0.09). Postmenopausal groups with DM1 and DM2 were slightly higher b-CTx levels than premenopausal.

The patients with DM2 compared to DM1 had higher average BMD at all measured areas. Bone fragility is the result not so much of a decrease in BMD, but alterations in bone microstructure, as indicated by the disregulation of bone remodeling markers. This suggests that patients with diabetes are at a higher risk of bone turnover disorders compared to individuals without diabetes, which does not necessarily correlate with differences in BMD.